Van Beneden, Eduard

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A Belgian cytologist, demonstrated the constance of chromosome numbers for the species, the reduction of their number during maturation of germ cells, and the restoration of the double number at fertilization. He studied the behavior of chromosomes during meiosis (reduction division) and helped to clarify their role in heredity and development (1883). He further studied for the formation and maturation of sperms and eggs of the roundworm ascaris (1883).